Solukon will premiere the SFM-AT850 automated depowdering system at Formnext 2026. It succeeds the SFM-AT800-S and SFM-AT1000-S and accepts parts up to 1,000 kg and 650 × 650 × 800 mm in standard form. An optional long swivel arm raises the height limit to 1,050 mm.

Large LPBF machines need equally capable post-processing

Densely packed plates and heavy parts from multi-laser LPBF systems turn powder removal into a production operation. The front-top chamber supports crane loading. Two programmable rotation axes and vibration use movement and gravity to empty internal passages; the chamber can be inerted for reactive materials including aluminium and titanium.

Ultrasonics and software-planned motion

The SFM-AT850-E adds ultrasonic excitation for delicate lattices and long channels. Solukon presents it as a gentle, quiet alternative to pneumatic excitation. SPR-Pathfinder derives a motion sequence and estimated cleaning time from CAD. That is a useful planning aid, but actual flow depends on powder, surface, channel and orientation, so physical trials remain necessary.

Additional compressed-air and shielding-gas ports, role-based access, recipe management and remote maintenance support a controlled workflow. Recovered powder can enter a compatible container or the SFM-PCU collection station, enabling better documentation of powder paths, operator intervention and recipe changes.

Commercial state and evidence gap

Orders are planned to open at Formnext, with first deliveries expected by the end of Q3 2027. Capacity, dimensions and functions are vendor specifications. No public independent measurements yet cover cycle time, residual powder, noise, exposure or availability.

Practical conclusion

The business case is not whether the machine rotates a one-tonne component. It is whether the worst channels meet a documented residual-powder limit in an acceptable time, with controlled manual work and material loss. Acceptance should use representative parts, weighing, borescope or CT inspection, air and surface sampling, and a powder-recovery mass balance.

Sources and transparency

Specifications and delivery timing come from Solukon's 15 October 2026 announcement. TCT, 3D ADEPT and 3Druck served as topic detectors; no independent machine test is yet public.